Bridleway Improvement

MARGARET BAXTER’S PAGE – NOT FROM HELL! PAGE 7

BRIDLEWAY IMPROVEMENT In mid-September I was one of a party of volunteers (from the Countryside Access Team) organised by Cumbria CC Ranger (South Lakes) Eve Borrino to help improve a bridleway near Killington, just south of Sedbergh. This BW begins in the hamlet of Beckside, and, after just 50 yards, divides, the right-hand branch going through to Killington village and the other going up to Aikrigg.

The first 50 yards are terrible, just like a beck bottom, because the surface has been washed away by water cascading down from the field above. A lot of money was spent, and ultimately wasted, on improvement, but until the field is drained differently the problem will remain. You’d need to lead horses up this short part. This stretch was not our objective – we turned left onto the Aikrigg branch.

The problem here was that part of the wall of this attractive and ancient route had fallen into the BW, making it very difficult and dangerous for a horse. Of course, it’s possible to go up the adjacent field instead, but that’s not really the point! Eve had arranged for the local farmer to attend with his tractor, and 8 of us got to work throwing rocks into the tractor bucket, which was then emptied at the other side of the field. It was sometimes difficult to decide how far down to go, but basically we concentrated on leaving a fairly even surface, even if it was still stony. Luckily we had very good weather, but it was hard work, and I don’t know how many tons were moved. This coming week we are returning, as the farmer is bringing several loads of earth with which to level off the ground.

In addition to the ground, we were also busy up above, because there were several trees, which had grown over the BW. As the only vaguely horsey person there, I was called on to decide whether we’d cut enough off to avoid decapitation! In the 1976 Definitive Statement the route is described as “a well-defined track 2 – 2.5 metres wide between hedgerows”. Most of the hedgerows have disappeared, just leaving occasional trees.

Eve is very keen that some local riders may feel like tackling this route and giving their comments. As noted above, the first stretch is beyond comment!

The Cumbria CC Rangers are very helpful and supportive when they are alerted to footpath and bridleway problems, and Geoff Fewkes (who covers North Cumbria) is helping me get to the bottom of certain problems with a BW in Castle Sowerby parish. This route is part of a network of BWs and quiet roads in the area, but at present there’s an impossible gate and a garden and patio to negotiate. More on this later! Margaret Baxter

Update! On Thursday 15th October a party of five (Cumbria CC Rangers and volunteers) returned to the BW and, with the help of the landowner, filled in the stony and sunken sections (left after the previous clearance) with soil, and as you can see from the photo the route is now very much improved. We hope by this time next year the grass will have grown over and made a really good surface. It has been a very worthwhile project, but bear in mind that the lower part still needs serious draining and engineering work.